Volcanic Rush MTG Card

Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)
2015-03-27 - Number 166

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 1098

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number DTK-166

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Key Takeaways

Boost your gameplay by utilizing additional card draw and mana acceleration with Volcanic Rush.
Enhance combat dynamics with instant-speed spells to disrupt opponents’ strategies effectively.
Balance its pros and cons to make Volcanic Rush a formidable addition to red-themed decks.

Text of card

Attacking creatures get +2/+0 and gain trample until end of turn.

"The bravest warriors take the shortest path to victory, whatever that path may be." —Sakta, Atarka hunter

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Volcanic Rush offers a boost to your deck by enabling additional drawing power, which can be critical for outpacing your opponent in resources. This type of advantage can tip the scales in your favor, making it a valuable strategic play during tight matches.

Resource Acceleration: The ability to generate extra mana quickly can be a game-changer, especially in formats that value speed. With Volcanic Rush, you not only get the mana you need, but you also apply pressure with rapid, powerful plays that can overwhelm your opponents before they establish a strong defense.

Instant Speed: One of Volcanic Rush’s greatest strengths lies in its flexibility. Casting a spell at instant speed allows for reactive gameplay, giving you the power to adapt to the unfolding game state. This can catch opponents off guard and disrupt their strategies, securing you a significant advantage during critical moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One drawback of Volcanic Rush is the need to discard a card, which can put players at a disadvantage, particularly in instances when their hand size is critical for maintaining game presence.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s requirement for red mana means it’s not universally applicable across all deck types. Players running multi-color decks may find it difficult to consistently meet the casting conditions, potentially causing delays in gameplay or strategy execution.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for Volcanic Rush might be considerable when compared to other options available within the same mana range. This can be especially taxing in fast-paced games where efficiency and speed are key to victory.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Volcanic Rush offers a boost to any deck that thrives on dealing direct damage. Its instant speed allows it to be a surprise game-changer during combat.

Combo Potential: It pairs exceptionally well with decks that have a swarm of creatures, amplifying the threat of each token or small creature exponentially.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where board states can become bogged down with creatures, Volcanic Rush can break deadlocks and turn a stable board into a winning one.

How to beat

Addressing the challenge of Volcanic Rush in MTG games requires a strategic approach. This card can provide a considerable advantage to your opponent by granting their creatures trample and a significant power boost during the attack phase. To counteract this surge, it’s advisable to maintain a lineup of creatures with high toughness on your battlefield. This creates a defensive barrier that’s harder for boosted attackers to breach through.

Control decks that utilize counter spells also serve as an effective remedy against Volcanic Rush. Keeping up mana for counter spells like Negate or Essence Scatter can effectively neutralize this threat before it manifests on the board. Additionally, removal spells such as Doom Blade, which can swiftly eliminate a key attacking creature, can significantly reduce the impact of Volcanic Rush’s temporary buff, thus diminishing its potential damage during the crucial combat phase.

Your deck should also capitalize on board-clearing effects. Cards like Wrath of God wipe the slate clean, erasing the immediate threat Volcanic Rush poses. While Volcanic Rush can empower an opponent’s aggressive onslaught, a well-prepared defensive strategy is the key to overcoming the inferno it brings to MTG tables.

Cards like Volcanic Rush

Volcanic Rush stands out as a dynamic force multiplier among red spells in the strategic world of Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to grant creatures +2/+0 and trample until end of turn, it draws paralleled might with other cards designed to empower a wide board. One notable compatriot in this category is Trumpet Blast. Functioning almost as a smaller sibling, Trumpet Blast offers a leaner mana investment for a similar, but less potent, +2/+0 boost without the trample advantage.

In the same conversation, we can’t overlook Overrun, a green staple that offers a more substantial effect, not only boosting power and toughness by +3/+3 but providing trample as well. The significant difference here lies in the higher mana cost and the color shift, requiring a different deck strategy. Lastly, the presence of Rush of Adrenaline in a deckbuilder’s arsenal provides an individual creature with a more modest power boost and trample at a very low cost, but it lacks the daunting wave of strength that Volcanic Rush can unleash across an entire army of creatures.

Comparatively, Volcanic Rush thrives by balancing its reach and potency in red aggressive strategies, enabling it to amplify the potential damage output significantly in a critical turn and earn its place in MTG as a powerful card for wide-board scenarios.

Cards similar to Volcanic Rush by color, type and mana cost

Beacon of Destruction - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Volcanic Rush MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Mystery Booster, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Volcanic Rush and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Volcanic Rush Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Ryan Barger.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2015-03-27	Dragons of Tarkir	DTK	166	2015	Normal	Black	Ryan Barger
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	1098	2015	Normal	Black	Ryan Barger
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	DTK-166	2015	Normal	Black	Ryan Barger

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Volcanic Rush has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Volcanic Rush card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2015-02-25	An “attacking creature” is one that has been declared as an attacker that combat, or one that was put onto the battlefield attacking this combat. Unless that creature leaves combat, it continues to be an attacking creature through the end of combat step, even if the player it was attacking has left the game, or the planeswalker it was attacking has left the battlefield.
2015-02-25	Even though Volcanic Rush affects only attacking creatures, the bonus will remain for the rest of the turn.
2015-02-25	Only creatures that are attacking as Volcanic Rush resolves will receive the bonus. In other words, casting it before you declare attackers usually won’t do anything.